Mess of Pottage/Pot of Message!

I made some soup today - it was Bob's turn to host the monthly "Local Clergy Lunch". They meet regularly to share news, pray and generally encourage each other. I usually disappear to the kitchen, eat my lunch by myself, and do the crossword! By tradition, they always have a fairly simple meal - soup, bread, cheese, and fruit.

Last time they came, I combined cans of "Sainsbury's Basics" stuff with better quality cans - and it worked out at around £3.55 for 4.5pints/2.4 litres. The 'basics' tastes thin - and using all 'posh' is a bit pricey!

This time, starting from scratch, I modified two recipes from my ancient Cranks Book, which Bob gave me in 1985.

The results were surprisingly good [and the Revs all seem to have had second helpings - there's only just enough left for us two to have some for lunch tomorrow!!]

Here's what I did...

TOMATO SOUP

• 2 cans of tomatoes [peeled, or chopped]
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• Small potato, chopped
• Splash of oil
• Garlic Clove, [peeled and chopped]
• 2 tbsp [heaped] dried milk powder
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 tsp dried herbs [or a few fresh ones chopped]
• ½tsp of bouillon powder
• 1tsp sugar
• salt and pepper

1. Empty the cans of tomatoes into a sieve over a large jug, allow to drain, pushing tomatoes with wooden spoon to extract most of the liquid.
2. Saute the onion briefly in the oil in a large saucepan
3. Add tomatoes, potato, garlic, herbs, puree to pan
4. Make up liquid in the jug to 45 floz/1.2 litres, stir in milk powder. Pour over veg in pan. Add sugar, salt and pepper.
5. Bring to boil, simmer for 30 minutes [covered].
6. Cool a little, and then liquidise in blender.
7. Reheat gently in pan to serve.

This cost 90p to make. Equivalent cost of JS Basics tomato soup 87p, and Covent Garden Tomato Soup £3.98

CARROT POTAGE

• 1lb carrots chopped
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1 medium potato chopped
• splash of oil
• 2 tsp fresh chopped thyme
• 1 tsp marmite
• ½tsp bouillon powder
• salt and pepper

1. Saute onion briefly in the oil in a large saucepan
2. Add all other ingredients
3. Bring to boil, stirring
4. Simmer for 30 minutes [covered]
5. Cool a little, and then liquidise in blender
6. Reheat gently in pan to serve.

This cost only 65p to make. Equivalent cost of JS Basics vegetable soup 87p, and Covent Garden Carrot and Coriander Soup £3.98.

TOTAL COST OF SOUPS £1.55 - saving of between 39p [cheapest] or £2 [what I spent last time] and £6.41 [premium quality]- and the taste was definitely superior to the basics or the blended, and the consistency was thick and creamy, not at all watery.

In the afternoon, I continued being thrifty by going to buy 2 month's worth of dog food, which is on offer today [I have worked out that the offer comes up every about eight weeks - so this way I never seem to have to pay full price] So Charlie will be well fed too!